Philippines may get new gaming hub

The industry could soon change in the Philippines as a new gaming hub may arrive in Kawit, a local region.

Philippines.- The gambling industry continues to evolve in Asia and the world. That’s why local government in the Philippines is pushing to develop a new gaming hub in the country.

Kawit Mayor Angelo Emilio Aguinaldo formally wrote to the Philippines Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) to make the proposal. He is pushing for the Philippines to set a 70-hectare offshore gaming hub.

Aguinaldo hopes a POGO city could complement Kim and Kevin Wong’s POGO Hub.

“The municipality of Kawit is now host to a POGO Hub located in the Cove Island and Animal Island in Barangay Pulvorista,” Aguinaldo said. “But in order to fully maximise our advantage, we want to establish a POGO City. An LGU initiated project that can cater to interested holders of online gaming licenses to locate and utilise our proposed facilities,” he added.

“We are partnering with private entities that can help us establish the POGO City at no cost to the government.”

POGO licences

PAGCOR announced changes regarding gambling hubs that illegally employ Chinese nationals. The gaming regulator in the Philippines won’t take any further POGO applications for new offshore gambling firms.

PAGCOR will “stop first and look at other concerns that we have not met comfortably,” chairwoman Andrea Domingo said. She detailed there are 58 licensed offshore gaming operators in the country, and three applicants await for consideration.

“We will finish the assessments by the end of the year,” ABS CBN News quoted Domingo. “We don’t want problems. We should be able to come up with a viable and good program,” she said.

The gaming industry in the Philippines has been in the spotlight for quite a while. Even as President Rodrigo Duterte had eased up on restrictions, potential hurdles continue to rise up in the horizon.

Amid a major controversy with POGO licensees and China, Philippines is even discussing a complete gambling ban.

According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, it’s up to the President to decide.

“We have to ask the President on this policy or issue. We have to ask the President,” GMA News quoted him saying. However, he reminded reporters that online gambling is legal in the country.